Automated vision system for a crystal growth apparatus

1. A method of producing a crystalline material comprising the steps of:

i) providing a crucible containing a solid feedstock in a hot zone of a crystal growth apparatus;

ii) heating the solid feedstock in the crucible to form a liquid feedstock melt;

iii) removing heat from the liquid feedstock melt to form a partially solidified melt;

iv) monitoring, during a solidification stage, for solidified crystalline material in the partially solidified melt with an automated vision system positioned above the crucible, wherein when no darker portions are seen by the automated vision system, the automated vision system determines full solidification has occurred;

v) fully solidifying the partially solidified melt to form the crystalline material; and

vi) ending, by the automated vision system, the heat removal upon detecting full solidification by the automated vision system.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the crystal growth apparatus is a directional solidification furnace.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the partially solidified melt further comprises at least one impurity phase, and wherein the automated vision system monitors for solidified crystalline material in the partially solidified melt without interference from the at least one impurity phase.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein no solidified crystalline material is detected by the automated vision system in the partially solidified melt, and heat removal is continued until solidified crystalline material is detected by the automated vision system.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the automated vision system continuously monitors for solidified crystalline material in the partially solidified melt.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the automated vision system is a programmable camera.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the automated vision system monitors for solidified crystalline material in a surface center portion of the partially solidified melt.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the automated vision system is attached outside the crystal growth apparatus.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of annealing the crystalline material.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid feedstock comprises silicon.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the crystalline material is a silicon ingot.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid feedstock comprises alumina.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the crystalline material is sapphire.

14. A method of producing a crystalline material comprising the steps of:

i) providing a crucible containing a solid feedstock in a hot zone of a crystal growth apparatus;

ii) heating the solid feedstock in the crucible to form a liquid feedstock melt;

iii) monitoring, during a melting stage, for remaining solid feedstock in the liquid feedstock melt with an automated vision system positioned above the crucible;

iv) ending, by the automated vision system, the heating of the solid feedstock when no remaining solid feedstock is detected by the automated vision system;

v) removing heat from the liquid feedstock melt to form a partially solidified melt;

vi) monitoring, during a solidification stage, for solidified crystalline material in the partially solidified melt with the automated vision system, wherein when no darker portions are seen by the automated vision system, the automated vision system determines full solidification has occurred;

vii) fully solidifying the partially solidified melt to form the crystalline material; and

viii) ending, by the automated vision system, the heat removal upon detecting full solidification by the automated vision system.